10: TEN

Marisol was given her own room. She excused herself as soon as they arrived, and she sat on the bed, just thinking. She was scared at first; there was no doubt, but now? Now she felt nothing. After all the years of her father's abuse, had she become cold to these situations? That scared her more than being attacked. Tala whined on her lap, and Marisol smiled softly.

She heard someone shout downstairs. She stood up from her bed, hearing loud steps coming up the stairs and her door swing open.

"Marisol."

She sighed in relief. She walked forward, and he lunged. Her arms wrapped around him, and she closed her eyes contently. "Grey."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It was just...I should call the police."

"We already did." No, they didn't, but they would take care of it. "Do you remember the rules I talked about when we started al of this?"

She nodded.

"They start now."

"But we don't know if I'm pregnant yet."

"I don't care, Marisol. Your safety is the most important thing to me no matter what. Tomorrow we will go to your house and get everything you need."

"Wait, I need to go back tonight...I need my cane, and Tala's harness, and clothes for work. My files are also there–"

"Marisol, you were just attacked. Take tomorrow off."

She shook her head. "I can't. My job won't let me. Besides, working calms me down."

Grey shook his head. They would talk more about this later. "A doctor is going to be here soon to take a look at you."

"I'm fine–"

"Enough, Marisol, I insist."

Marisol could hear the hint of frustration in his voice. She didn't take offense, she knew something was wrong. She knew he was probably worried. "Are you okay? You seem... stressed."

He sighed. He wished he could talk to her about everything going on, but he wasn't sure how to even start. He wanted to be candid with her, and he knew that she would eventually accept his life, but he didn't want to cause her more stress. "A lot is going on. Come on, let's get you dinner."

❥

After eating, he reluctantly brought her back to her home. She sighed as she entered. "I don't understand what happened."

He remained quiet, helping her upstairs to her room. He found her luggage and set it on the bed. Silently, he sat down and grabbed her hands. "Marisol."

She smiled at him. "Grey."

He smiled, almost sadly, as he looked at her. "I think you were attacked because of me, and I am sorry. I didn't think anything like this would happen so quickly."

She cocked her head to the side. "You thought something like this would happen eventually? Why?"

"Some people do not like the power I have amassed. I knew eventually word about you would get out, but I didn't think it would be so soon."

"It's not your fault, Grey."

"It is my fault," he affirmed. "If I had been here with you and never gone–"

"Greyson," she said, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Stop blaming yourself. Nothing happened anyway. I'm fine. They were the people who broke in, not you. Your wealth and power do not justify others' violence."

He only nodded, looking up at her. Her eyes never quite focused on him, but he could feel the sincerity even from her blind stare. "What about them?"

She cocked her head, confused. "Who?" She could feel his hand lightly graze her stomach and she looked down. She shook her head. "I don't think it worked. I don't feel any different than before."

"Marisol, some women are pregnant for weeks before they feel anything at all. And besides, if you are pregnant, the baby is so small we can't even see."

She sighed, nodding. "Well if I am, I think they are fine. You're their father, after all."

"What does that mean?"

She grinned, pulling away from them. She winked before placing her hands on her hips, changing the topic. "I need to tell Brad and Emilia what happened."

"You can tell them tomorrow."

"Are you saying you really want to pick out my outfits for the next nine months?"

He immediately stood. "Here use my phone."

She laughed at him.

A few hours later, Brad and Emilia had come over. They both cooed over her and made sure she was okay before helping her pack her essentials. She insisted that she was fine, but her friends and Grey refused to leave her side.

After many arguments, Brad and Emilia allowed her to leave with Grey. He had promised he would take good care of her. When they arrived back at his house, they had help bringing her things inside. She felt awkward. She didn't like being cared for like a child. She wanted to do things to prove her independence, but even she knew that she require a lot more help than other people. It saddened her.

"Marisol?"

She turned around hearing Abigail's voice. Apparently she must have drifted off and not heard her call her name a few times.

"Is everything okay?"

Marisol nodded. She wasn't one to talk about her feelings often, not after years of being told she didn't matter. "I wanted to say thank you for what you did. If you hadn't been there I'm not sure what would have happened."

"You don't have to apologize to me. We're..." family. "friends. With the way you and Grey coo over each other it looks like one day you might be family."

Blushing, Marisol shook her head. "I'm just his surrogate.'

"Does he know that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he moved you into our home and calls you every day, not to mention he worries all the time about you–"

"He worries about his baby–"

"Why do you think he doesn't worry about you? Do you think he could never, I don't know, like you?"

Marisol didn't know Abigail that much, so she didn't want to get into all her insecurities. Instead she just shook her head again. "No one falls in love with someone they have to take care of."

"I don't know, Marisol, maybe you should talk to him. What do you want?"

"I will never get what I want."

❥

The next day, Greyson gently knocked on her door. She was already awake, attempting to get ready for work. He walked in, seeing her only in a towel. His eyes changed colors, but he didn't have to hide them. He sat on her bed, knowing that she knew he had come in.

"Grey?"

"Since you insist on going to work, I suggest a compromise."

"And that is?" She asked, hand drying her hair.

"Nolan and Abigail go with you."

"Alright," she agreed easily.

He raised an eyebrow. "It was that easy?"

"Yeah, I mean it makes sense. My home was just raided. I'm surprised you're not hiring anyone, though."

"I trust Nolan and Abigail."

"You don't trust a lot of people do you?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Yet you have a lot of people living in this house. Why?"

"I have a big family."

She hummed, nodding. "I wish I had a big family."

"Only your mom and dad are alive right?"

She nodded and turned around so he couldn't see her saddened face. Grey stood up and went to her closet taking out an outfit he thought would be best. "You should wear this today."

She smiled. "You picked out my outfit?" She asked sarcastically. She walked toward him and placed her hand on the fabric. She scoffed, teasingly. "These are dress pants–"

"It's cold out," he explained.

"Yes, but I usually wear dresses."

He laid the outfit on the bed and then walked to her, kissing the top of her head. "Let me know when you're ready and I'll take you to work."

❥

Emilia handed Marisol her file. She thought it was weird that two other people were following Marisol around, but she shrugged it off. After a few hours, Marisol cracked her back with a sigh. "Can you get me a coffee?"

"Coffee?" Emilia asked skeptically. "Isn't there a bun in the oven?"

Marisol sighed, nodding. "I don't know yet. But you're right, maybe coffee isn't best..."

"How about tea?"

"Ugh, okay. Can you put some honey in it too?"

Emilia nodded. "Of course." Grabbing her jacket, Emilia left shortly after. Marisol grabbed the familiar file on her desk and started reading it.

"Is this all lawyers do? Read all day?"

She laughed at Abigail. "Pretty much. Some days I go to court. Other days I have meetings. I–" She stopped as she heard her office door open. She stood up, immediately recognizing the stench of smoke as her boss.

"Hey, Marisol, I need those reports by 5."

"Yes, sir."

"And Marisol?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I prefer when you wear business dresses."

Unethical, she knew it, but she swallowed her pride. "Good to know, sir." She heard the door shut again and she sat back down.

"Does he always speak to you that way?"

"I'm the only female attorney at this firm. I'm used to all the comments."

"Gross," Abigail commented.

"Does Grey know?"

Marisol shook her head at Nolan. "He's too busy and I can handle it."

Before they left work that evening, Abigail made sure to drop by Marisol's boss' office. She rolled her eyes as he heard him talking on his phone to his wife apparently. He said he would be home shortly but he had a few errands to run first. Abigail rolled her eyes as he left his office. She slipped in and looked over his neat desk. She saw a picture of his wife and kids on his desk, but her stomach turned when she saw a sticky note with a number underneath his large calendar. Humming, she took her phone out and called the number only to hear a female voice on the other end. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Miranda?" Abigail asked, noticing the engraved watch perfectly displayed on the dark desk. She figured the name on the watch was from his wife.

"No, I'm afraid you have the wrong number."

"Oh, alright, then. I'm sorry." Abigail hung up and left the office, waiting until he returned with a cup of coffee. She watched as he hurriedly put away his things and took another call. This time he said that he only had a few minutes to mess around because his wife was expecting him.

Even grosser, Abigail thought. She returned to her mate, and they all left Marisol's office to meet Grey on the street. They drove home together.

Later that night, Abigail found Marisol's boss's wife's number, and she picked up almost immediately. "Hi...you don't know me, but I know your husband. You should know that I believe he is having an affair. Here is the number."

Abigail had to admit; she didn't tell her because she felt it was her duty, but instead did it for Marisol. She figured hopefully while her boss was dealing with this, he'd get off her back. Marisol didn't know it, but Abigail would always have her back.